Multiple provisioning object operation

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method, computer-readable medium, and an apparatus operable to perform the method is provided for managing multiple provisioned domain name system (“DNS”) registry objects. The method can include receiving, at a DNS registry, a multiple domain extensible provisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a registrar on behalf of a registrant to perform an action for each provisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects; comparing the action with one or more allowable actions in a policy maintained by the registry; determining, by a processor, that the action is allowable based on the comparing; and performing, based on the determining, the action on each of the provisioned DNS registry objects in one transaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/233,118, filed on Apr. 16, 2021, which claimsthe benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/261,625,filed Jan. 30, 2019, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/537,597, filed Nov. 10, 2014, which claims thebenefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/903,219, filed Nov. 12, 2013, the contents of which are allincorporated by reference in their entireties. This application isrelated to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/750,524, filed Jan. 23,2020, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Pat. No. 10,565,666,filed Sep. 25, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/539,265, filed Sep. 26, 2011, the contents of whichare all incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

As Internet usage grows exponentially, the demand for Internet-relatedservices is also growing rapidly. As a result of the increased usage ofthe Internet, the demand for domain names is also growing rapidly.Consequently, demand for domain related services is also on the rise.Such domain related services can include domain name creation, domainname registration renewal, and the like. Typically, a website serves asa primary vehicle for establishing an online presence for a domain name.To meet this ever increasing demand for domain name related services, itis necessary that the entities that provide these services do so in anefficient and cost-effective manner.

The Domain Name System (“DNS”) is the part of the Internetinfrastructure that translates human-readable domain names into theInternet Protocol (“IP”) numbers needed to establish TCP/IPcommunication over the Internet. DNS allows users to refer to web sites,and other resources, using easier to remember domain names, such as“www.example.com”, rather than the numeric IP addresses associated witha website, e.g., 123.4.56.78, and assigned to computers on the Internet.Each domain name can be made up of a series of character strings (e.g.,labels) separated by dots. The right-most label in a domain name isknown as the top-level domain (“TLD”). Examples of well-known TLDs are“com”; “net”; “org”; and the like. Each TLD supports second-leveldomains, listed immediately to the left of the TLD, e.g., the “example”level in “www.example.com”. Each second-level domain can include anumber of third-level domains located immediately to the left of thesecond-level domain, e.g. the “www” level in www.example.com. Eachdomain name includes one or more characters (labels), each of which mayeither be an ASCII character or a language-specific character (e.g.,Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, and Latin letters with diacritics (e.g., e)).Domain names represented, in whole or in part, by language-specificcharacters are called Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). While notyet available, potential IDN versions of well-known TLDs, such as“.com,” “.net,” and “.org.” could also be created (e.g. “.net”).

The responsibility for operating each TLD, including maintaining aregistry of the second-level domains within the TLD, is delegated to aparticular organization, known as a domain name registry (“registry”).The registry is primarily responsible for answering queries for IPaddresses associated with domains (“resolving”), typically through DNSservers that maintain such information in large databases, and foroperating its top-level domain.

For most TLDs, in order to obtain a domain name, that domain name has tobe registered with a registry through a domain name registrar, an entityauthorized to register Internet domain names on behalf end-users.Alternatively, an end-user can register a domain name indirectly throughone or more layers of resellers. A registry may receive registrationsfrom hundreds of registrars.

A registrar usually has a dedicated service connection with theregistries in order to access domain related services, e.g., domain namecreation or renewal. Registrars typically use the ExtensibleProvisioning Protocol (“EPP”) as a vehicle to communicate with theregistries in order to register or renew domain names. EPP is a protocoldesigned for allocating objects within registries over the Internet. TheEPP protocol is based on Extensible Markup Language (“XML”), which is astructured, text-based format. The underlying network transport is notfixed, although the currently specified method is over TransmissionControl Protocol (“TCP”).

A zone file is a text file that describes a portion of the DNS called aDNS zone. A zone file is organized in the form of resource records (RR)and contains information that defines mappings between domain names andIP addresses and other resources. The format of zone files is defined bya standard, with each line typically defining a single resource record.A line begins with a domain name, but if left blank, defaults to thepreviously defined domain name. Following the domain name is the time tolive (TTL), the class (which is almost always “IN” for “internet” andrarely included), the type of resource record (A, MX, SOA, etc.),followed by type-specific data, such as the IPv4 address for A records.Comments can be included by using a semi-colon and tines can becontinued by using parentheses. There are also file directives that aremarked with a keyword starting with a dollar sign.

The DNS distributes the responsibility of assigning domain names andmapping those names to IP addresses by designating authoritative nameservers for each domain. Authoritative name servers are assigned to beresponsible for their particular domains, and in turn can assign otherauthoritative name servers for their sub-domains. This mechanismgenerally helps avoid the need for a single central register to becontinually consulted and updated. The DNS resolution process allows forusers to be directed to a desired domain by a lookup process whereby theuser enters the desired domain, and the DNS returns appropriate IPnumbers. During the DNS resolution process, a request for a given domainname is routed from a resolver (e.g., a stub resolver) to an appropriateserver (e.g., a recursive resolver) to retrieve the IP address. Toimprove efficiency, reduce DNS traffic across the Internet, and increaseperformance in end-user applications, the DNS supports DNS cache serversthat store DNS query results for a period of time determined by thetime-to-live (TTL) of the domain name record in question. Typically,such caching DNS servers, also called DNS caches, also implement therecursive algorithm necessary to resolve a given name starting with theDNS root through to the authoritative name servers of the querieddomain. Internet service providers (ISPs) typically provide recursiveand caching DNS servers for their customers. In addition, homenetworking routers may implement DNS caches and proxies to improveefficiency in the local network.

Conventionally, EPP is used to by the registrar to request the registryperform a single action for a single provisioned DNS registry object fora registrant. If one or more actions are required for numerousprovisioned DNS registry objects, then the EPP command process canunnecessarily burden the registrar or the registry with these numerouscommand requests. What is needed is an improved technique wherebymultiple provisioned DNS registry objects can be managed together in asingle operation.

SUMMARY

A computer-implemented method for managing multiple provisioned domainname system (“DNS”) registry objects is disclosed. The method cancomprise receiving, at a DNS registry, a multiple domain extensibleprovisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a registrar on behalf of aregistrant to perform an action for each provisioned DNS registry objectof the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects; comparing the actionwith one or more allowable actions in a policy maintained by theregistry; determining, by a processor, that the action is allowablebased on the comparing; and performing, based on the determining, theaction on each of the provisioned DNS registry objects in onetransaction.

The multiple domain EPP command can comprise one or more of: a multipledomain create operation to create an instance of each DNS registryobject, a multiple domain transfer operation to manage sponsorshipchanges of each DNS registry object, a multiple domain renew operationto extend a validity period of each DNS registry object, a multipledomain update operation to change information associated with each DNSregistry object, and a multiple domain delete operation to delete aninstance of each DNS registry object. The multiple domain EPP commandcan comprises one or more of a new operation based on extending anexisting operation.

Each provisioned DNS registry object of the multiple DNS registryobjects can comprise a domain name, hosts, or contacts.

The method can further comprise determining, by a processor, that theaction is not allowable based on the comparing and providing anotification that the action is not allowable to the registrar.

A first provisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisioned DNSregistry objects can have a relationship with a second provisioned DNSregistry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects. Therelationship can be an international language version of a provisionedDNS registry object. The relationship can be an international languageversion of a top-level domain. The relationship can be a similarity in acharacter string in the first and the second provisioned DNS registryobject. The relationship can include where a top-level domain of a firstprovisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registryobjects and a top-level domain of a second provisioned DNS registryobject of the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects can be the sameor different. The top-level domain of the second provisioned DNSregistry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects can bean international language version of the top-level domain of a firstprovisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registryobjects.

The policy can comprises one or more of: domain name system securityextensions (DNSSEC)-related policy, top level domain launch policy,redemption grace period policy, or domain lifecycle policy.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructionswhich, when executed on a processor, perform a method for managingmultiple provisioned domain name system (“DNS”) registry objects isdisclosed. The method can comprise receiving, at a DNS registry, amultiple domain extensible provisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from aregistrar on behalf of a registrant to perform an action for eachprovisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registryobjects; comparing the action with one or more allowable actions in apolicy maintained by the registry; determining, by a processor, that theaction is allowable based on the comparing; and performing, based on thedetermining, the action on each of the provisioned DNS registry objectsin one transaction.

An apparatus is disclosed that comprises a processor and a memorycommunicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storinginstructions which, when executed on the processor, perform a method formanaging multiple provisioned domain name system (“DNS”) registryobjects, the method comprising receiving, at a DNS registry, a multipledomain extensible provisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a registraron behalf of a registrant to perform an action for each provisioned DNSregistry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects;comparing the action with one or more allowable actions in a policymaintained by the registry; determining, by a processor, that the actionis allowable based on the comparing; and performing, based on thedetermining, the action on each of the provisioned DNS registry objectsin one transaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an example DNS system that is consistent withimplementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method for managing multiple provisioneddomain name system (“DNS”) registry objects that is consistent withimplementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example computer system that is consistent withimplementations of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although EPP is widely adopted by many registries, the term “provisionedobjects,” “provisioning objects,” “provisioned DNS registry object,” orany similar variant thereof as these terms are used herein, should beunderstood to include the provisioned objects as described in thestandards that define EPP (or [EPP-D] as used below). Examples ofstandard “provisioning objects” include domain names in RFC 5731, hostnames in RFC 5732, and contacts in RFC 5733. A “provisioning object”includes the standard EPP objects as existing or yet-to-be-developedobjects following the EPP standard.

In accordance with implementations consistent with the presentteachings, multiple provisioned DNS registry objects, such as, but arenot limited to, domains, hosts, and contacts, can be managed in a single(atomic) operation by the registry. The operation can be invoked over aprovisioning protocol, e.g., the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)or can be invoked using other interfaces, e.g., a web user interface(UI). A provisioning system for a Domain Registry is disclosed that isoperable to manage a provisioned DNS registry object at a time based onIETF RFC 5730-5733 with the transform operations of create, update,delete, renew, and transfer. This provisioning system can provide theability to transform more than one provisioning object at a time byextending the single provisioning object operations, where someattributes are common across the set of provisioning objects and someattributes are specific to each provisioning object. The exampleprovisioning system can allow for the definition of both server-side andclient-side related objects and can provide the flexibility to manageboth server-side and client-side defined related provisioned DNSregistry objects. For example, a client can relate FOO.TLD and BAR.TLDdomain names by creating them in a multiple domain create operation andcan continue to manage them together with multiple domain operationsupdate, renew, transfer, and delete. A server, in accordance with thepresent teachings, can define a relationship between domain names andeither support as an option or as a requirement to manage the domainnames with multiple domain operations. A similar approach can be takenin managing a set of other provisioning objects like hosts and contacts.

In some implementations, the ability to create, update, delete, renew,and transfer (request, cancel, approve, reject) multiple provisioned DNSregistry objects, i.e., domain names in a single operation is disclosed.The provisioned DNS registry objects, i.e., domain names, do not requireany server-side defined relationship. In some implementations,attributes that are shared can be defined. For example, the namesservers and contact passed in a multiple domain create operation can beshared across the set of domain names, but the attributes, such as theauth-info (secret password) and registration period are not shared. Asimilar approach can be taken with other object types like hosts andcontacts. A client-side domain name relationship can be managed by usingthe extension to the transform commands that enable transformingmultiple provisioned DNS registry objects in a single transform command.A server-side domain name relationship (across top-level domains “tld”or variants within a top-level domain) is reflected in the extension tothe info response, and can be managed by using the extension to thetransform commands.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system 100 for carrying out the methodsdisclosed herein. A Registrant 105 communicates with a Registrar 110,requesting to perform an action with a provisioned DNS registry object.Registrar 110, in turn, communicates with a Registry 115 thatadministers the specified TLD, for example, the .com TLD. Registry 115includes one or more registration systems 120 for the TLDs itadministers. Registry 115 also includes one or more registry databases125, each corresponding to one of the TLDs Registry 115 administers, forstoring and maintaining information regarding the domain name. Registry115 can also include a policy database 130 that store one or morepolicies to be used by the Registry 115 to determine whether or norparticular actions are permissible based on, for example, one or moreof: the Registrar 110, the Registrant 105, or the action requested forthe provisioned DNS registry objects. Alternatively, the Registry 115may comprise a single database that could include both a registrydatabase for multiple TLDs and a policy database.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example computer-implemented method 200 formanaging multiple provisioned domain name system (“DNS”) registryobjects that is consistent with implementations of the presentdisclosure. The method 200 can begin at 205. At 210, the DNS registry115 can receive a multiple domain extensible provisioning protocol(“EPP”) command from the registrar 110 on behalf of the registrant 105to perform an action for each provisioned DNS registry object of themultiple provisioned DNS registry objects.

The action requested in the multiple domain EPP command, which is morefully described below, can comprise one or more of: a multiple domaincreate operation to create an instance of each DNS registry object, amultiple domain transfer operation to manage sponsorship changes of eachDNS registry object, a multiple domain renew operation to extend avalidity period of each DNS registry object, a multiple domain updateoperation to change information associated with each DNS registryobject, and a multiple domain delete operation to delete an instance ofeach DNS registry object. Examples of the provisioned DNS registryobjects can include, but are not limited to, a domain name, hosts, orcontacts.

In some examples, the multiple domain EPP command can be used for newtypes of commands. In EPP, a new type of command, or verb, can becreated by extending an empty or near empty existing command. A synccommand can be created by extending an empty update, which can allow forthe synchronization of more than one provisioned DNS registry object ata time utilizing the multiple domain operation extension.

In some examples, a first provisioned DNS registry object of themultiple provisioned DNS registry objects can be a variant of or relatedto a second provisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisionedDNS registry objects. The variant can be an international languageversion of a provisioned DNS registry object. For example, a firstprovisioned DNS registry object can be example.com and the secondprovisioned DNS registry object can be internationalized version ofexample.com. The variant can be an international language version of atop-level domain. For example, a first provisioned DNS registry objectcan be example.com and the second provisioned DNS registry object can beinternationalized version of the .com TLD. The variant can be asimilarity in a character string in the first and the second provisionedDNS registry object. For example, a first provisioned DNS registryobject can be example.com and the second provisioned DNS registry objectcan be example1.com. The variant can be where a top-level domain of afirst provisioned DNS registry object of the multiple provisioned DNSregistry objects and a top-level domain of a second provisioned DNSregistry object of the multiple provisioned DNS registry objects are thesame or different.

By way of another example, there can be multiple forms of relationshipson the server side including, but are not limited to, internationalizeddomain name (“IDN”) variants within a TLD, for example, domain.tld andvardomain.tld, the same domain name label across related TLD's, forexample, domain.tld and domain.tld2, the same domain label across IDNvariant TLD's, for example, domain.tld and domain.vartld, and IDNvariants across related TLD's, for example, domain.tld andvardomain.tld2 or vardomain.vartld.

In yet another example, the TLD's don't have to be IDN variants of eachother to have them related. The Registry 115 could relate .foo and .barif there is a business relationship between the two. The Registry 115could actually relate second level domains that act like TLD′, wherethird level domains are created under the related second level domains(e.g. domain.com.tld and domain.net.tld). The Registry 115 could supportregistration of domains under any level and those parent domains couldbe related.

At 215, a comparison can be performed for the action with one or moreallowable actions in a policy maintained by the registry. For example,upon receiving the multiple domain EPP command from the Registrar 110,the Registry 115 may query the policy database 130. The policy database130 may contain a plurality of policies that include permissible actionsallowable for the Registrar 110, the Registrant 105, or the provisionedDNS registry objects on which the Registrar 110 has request the actionidentified by the multiple domain EPP command. Other policies caninclude, but are not limited to, domain name system security extensions(“DNSSEC”)-related policies, TLD launch policy, redemption grace periodpolicy, or domain lifecycle policy. For example, a policy may operate atan object level, such that each provisioned DNS registry object listedin the multiple domain EPP command is compared against the policy todetermine whether the action (i.e., create, delete, renew, transfer) ispermissible. Alternatively or additionally, a policy may operate at aspecific command level, such that the particular action is comparedagainst the policy to determine if that action is permissible.

At 220, a determination can be made that the action is allowable basedon the comparing. If the result of the determination is that the actionis not allowable, the registry 115 can ignore the command or can providean indication that the command is not allowable to the registrar 110. Insome examples, the Registry 115 can include reasons and suggestedrecourse for the registrar to take with the indication that the commandis not allowable. In some examples, the registry 115 may determine,based on a prior-established relationship between provisioned DNSregistry objects, that one of the provisioned DNS registry object listedin the multiple domain EPP command is associated with anotherprovisioned DNS registry object not listed in the multiple domain EPPcommand. Based on this prior-established relationship, the Registry 115may not permit the action for the provisioned DNS registry object listedin the multiple domain EPP command to occur. By way of example, considerthe situation that foo.com and bar.com have a previous-establishedrelationship, such that whatever change occurs to foo.com happens tobar.com. Now consider that the multiple domain EPP command includes anaction to be performed for both foo.com and example.com. Since themultiple domain EPP command did not include bar.com, the Registry candeny the action in the multiple domain EPP command.

At 225, the registry can then perform the action, if allowable, on eachof the provisioned DNS registry objects in one (single) transaction. At230, the method can end.

The examples below related to the multiple domain EPP command arenon-limiting, and provide one illustrate example of the multiple domainEPP structure that can be used in the present disclosure.

EPP <info> Command. This extension defines additional elements for theEPP <info> command described in [EPP-D]. There are two forms of theextension to the EPP <info> command based on the “type” attribute: TheDomain Info Form and the Related Info Form.

<relDom:infData> Element

The <relDom:infData> element is returned to a successfully processed<info> command for both the Domain Info Form, described in section[0036], and the Related Info Form, described in section [0047]. The<relDom:infData> element contains the following child elements:

<relDom:group>—One or more <relDom:group> elements describing the groupof related domains currently associated with the object. The<relDomain:group> element can contain a “type” attribute that definesthe type of the related domains with the possible values of “tld” and“variant”. The “tld” type represents a set of related domains across TopLevel Domains (TLDs) and the “variant” type represents a set of relatedvariant domains within a TLD. The <relDom:group> element contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:fields>—Element containing the set of fields that can besynchronized across the related domains. The <relDom:fields> element cancontain an “inSync” boolean attribute that defines whether all of thefields are synchronized. The <relDom:fields> elements contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:field>—One or more elements that can be the same across all ofthe related domains. The <relDom:field> element can contain a “name”attribute that defines the name of the field and an “inSync” booleanattribute that defines the field is synchronized across all of therelated domains.

<relDom:registered>—An optional element containing one or more<relDom:name> elements specifying the related domains that areregistered.

<relDom:available>—An optional element containing one or more<relDom:name> elements specifying the related domains that are availablefor registration.

Domain Info Form. The Domain Info Form, defined with the<relDom:info>“type” attribute value of “domain”, is used to get thedomain information of an existing domain along with the related domaininformation. This is the default form when the <relDom:info>“type”attribute is not explicitly defined. With the Domain Info Form, inaddition to the EPP info command elements described in [EPP-D], thecommand can contain an <extension> element. The <extension> element cancontain a child <relDom:info> element, with the “type” attribute valueof “domain” explicitly or by default, to indicate to the server toinclude the related domain information in an extension to the EPP inforesponse described in [EPP-D].

Example <info> command for a domain with the <relDom:info> extensionusing the Domain Info Form:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <info>   <domain:info     xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>xn--test.tld1</domain:name>    </domain:info>   </info>  <extension>    <relDom:info    xmlns:relDom=http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0type=“domain”/>   </extension>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>  </command></epp>

When an <info> command has been processed successfully, the EPP<resData> element can contain child elements as described in [EPP-D]. Inaddition, the EPP <extension> element can contain a child<relDom:infData> element that identifies the extension namespace if theobject has one or more related domains associated with it and based onserver policy. The <relDom:infData> element contains the child elementsdefined above.

Example <info> response for a domain with both “tld” and “variant”related domain information using the Domain Info Form is provided below.

Related Info Form. The Related Info Form, defined with the<relDom:info>“type” attribute value of “related”, is a new commandcalled the Related Domain Info Command. The command gets the relateddomain information of the <domain:name> info command element defined in[EPP-D], independent of the existence of the domain name. With theRelated Info Form, in addition to the EPP info command elements definedin [EPP-D], the command can contain an <extension> element. The<extension> element can contain a child <relDom:info> element, with the“type” attribute value of “related”, to indicate to the server toinclude the related domain information in an extension to the EPPresponse described in [EPP].

Example <info> command for a domain with the <relDom:info> extensionusing the Related Info Form:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <info>   <domain:info     xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>xn--test.tld3</domain:name>    </domain:info>   </info>  <extension>    <relDom:info    xmlns:relDom=http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0type=“related”/>   </extension>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>  </command></epp>

When an <info> command has been processed successfully, the EPP<response> element can contain an <extension> <relDom:infData> elementthat identifies the related domain namespace. In addition, the EPP<extension> element can contain a child <relDom:infData> element thatidentifies the extension namespace if at least one related domain existsand based on server policy. The <relDom:infData> element contains thechild elements defined above.

Example <info> response for both “tld” and “variant” related domaininformation using the Related Info Form:

<epp xmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0>  <response>   <resultcode=“1000”>    <msg>Command completed successfully</msg>   </result>  <extension>    <relDom:infData    xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:group type=“tld”>      <relDom:fields inSync=“false”>      <relDom:field name=“clID” inSync=“false”/>       <relDom:fieldname=“registrant” inSync=“true”/>       <relDom:field name=“ns”inSync=“false”/>      </relDom:fields>      <relDom:registered>      <relDom:name>xn--test.tld1</relDom:name>      <relDom:name>xn--test.tld2</relDom:name>      </relDom:registered>     <relDom:available>       <relDom:name>xn--test.tld3</relDom:name>     </relDom:available>     </relDom:group>     <relDom:grouptype=“variant”>      <relDom:fields inSync=“true”>       <relDom:fieldname=“clID” inSync=“true”/>       <relDom:field name=“registrant”inSync=“true”/>       <relDom:field name=“ns” inSync=“true”/>     </relDom:fields>      <relDom:registered>      <relDom:name>xn--test-variant1.tld1</relDom:name>      <relDom:name>xn--test-variant1.tld2</relDom:name>      <relDom:name>xn--test-variant1.tld3</relDom:name>     </relDom:registered>      <relDom:available>      <relDom:name>xn--test-variant2.tld1</relDom:name>      <relDom:name>xn--test-variant2.tld2</relDom:name>      <relDom:name>xn--test-variant2.tld3</relDom:name>     </relDom:available>     </relDom:group>    </relDom:infData>  </extension>   <trID>    <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>   <svTRID>54322-XYZ</svTRID>   </trID>  </response> </epp>

EPP <transfer> Query Command. This extension defines additional elementsfor the EPP <transfer> command described in [EPP-D]. The extension tothe EPP <transfer> query command is defined in section [0089] where the<transfer> command can contain an “op” attribute with value “query”. Theextension to the EPP <transfer> query response is defined below.

EPP Transform Commands. EPP provides five commands to transform objects:<create> to create an instance of an object, <delete> to delete aninstance of an object, <renew> to extend the validity period of anobject, <transfer> to manage object sponsorship changes, and <update> tochange information associated with an object.

EPP <create> Command. This extension defines additional elements for theEPP <create> command described in [EPP-D]. In addition to the EPPcommand elements described in [EPP-D], the command can contain an<extension> element. The <extension> element can contain a child<relDom:create> element to create more than one related domain name inthe <create> command. The <relDom:create> element contains the followingchild elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements to create alongwith the <domain:name> described in [EPP-D]. The <domain:ns>,<domain:registrant>, and <domain:contact> elements in [EPP-D] can be seton the <relDom:domain> objects by the server. The <relDom:domain>element contains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object to be created.

<relDom:authlnfo>—Element that contains authorization information to beassociated with the domain object as described in [EPP-D].

<relDom:period>—An optional element containing the initial registrationperiod of the domain object as described in [EPP-D]. A server may definea default initial registration period if not specified by the client.

<relDom:lang>—An optional element containing language tag value, asdefined in [EPP-ILANG], for an internationalized domain name (IDN).

Example <create> command for three related domain names (“example1.tld”,“example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) with the <relDom:create> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <create>   <domain:create      xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>       <domain:authInfo>     <domain:pw>2fooBAR</domain:pw>     </domain:authInfo>   </domain:create>   </create>   <extension>    <relDom:create      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:authInfo>       <relDom:pw>relDom123!</relDom:pw>     </relDom:authInfo>      <relDom:period unit=“y”>5</relDom:period>    </relDom:domain>     <relDom:domain>     <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>      <relDom:authInfo>      <relDom:pw>relDom456!</relDom:pw>      </relDom:authInfo>     <relDom:period unit=“y”>5</relDom:period>     </relDom:domain>   </relDom:create>   </extension>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID> </command> </epp>

When an <create> command has been processed successfully, the EPP<resData> element can contain child elements as described in [EPP-D]. Inaddition, the EPP <extension> element can contain a child<relDom:creData> element. The <relDom:creData> element contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements created along withthe <domain:name> described in [EPP-D]. The <relDom:domain> elementcontains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object created.

<relDom:crDate>—Element that contains the date and time of domain objectcreation.

<relDom:exDate>—An optional element that contains the date and timeidentifying the end of the domain object's registration period.

Example <create> response for three related domain names(“example1.tld”, “example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) created with the<relDom:create> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <response>   <resultcode=“1000”>    <msg>Command completed successfully</msg>   </result>  <resData>    <domain:creData      xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>    <domain:crDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</domain:crDate>    <domain:exDate>2018-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</domain:exDate>   </domain:creData>   </resData>   <extension>    <relDom:creData      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:crDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:crDate>     <relDom:exDate>2018-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:exDate>    </relDom:domain>     <relDom:domain>     <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:crDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:crDate>     <relDom:exDate>2018-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:exDate>    </relDom:domain>    </relDom:creData>   </extension>   <trID>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>    <svTRID>54321-XYZ</svTRID>   </trID> </response> </epp>

EPP <delete> Command

This extension defines additional elements for the EPP <delete> commanddescribed in [EPP-D].

In addition to the EPP command elements described in [EPP-D], thecommand can contain an <extension> element. The <extension> element cancontain a child <relDom:delete> element to delete more than one relateddomain name in the <delete> command. The <relDom:delete> elementcontains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—One or more <relDom:name> elements to delete along withthe <domain:name> described in [EPP-D].

Example <delete> command for three related domain names (“example1.tld”,“example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) with the <relDom:delete> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <delete>   <domain:delete xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>    </domain:delete>  </delete>   <extension>    <relDom:delete     xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>    <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>    </relDom:delete>  </extension>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>  </command> </epp>

When a <delete> command has been processed successfully, the EPP<resData> element can contain child elements as described in [EPP-D]. Inaddition, the EPP <extension> element can contain a child<relDom:delData> element. The <relDom:delData> element contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements containing theresult of the delete command. The <relDom:domain> element contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object.

<relDom:result>—Element that contains the result of the delete with thepossible values of “deleted”, to indicated that the domain object wasimmediately deleted, and “pendingDelete”, to indicate that the domainobject was updated with the “pendingDelete” status.

Example <delete> response for three related domain names(“example1.tld”, “example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) deleted with the<relDom:delete> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <response>   <resultcode=“1001”>    <msg>Command completed successfully; actionpending</msg>   </result>   <extension>    <relDom:delData      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>domain1.com</relDom:name>     <relDom:result>deleted</relDom:result>     </relDom:domain>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>domain2.com</relDom:name>     <relDom:result>pendingDelete</relDom:result>     </relDom:domain>   </relDom:delData>   </extension>   <trID>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>    <svTRID>54321-XYZ</svTRID>   </trID> </response> </epp>

EPP <renew> Command

This extension defines additional elements for the EPP <renew> commanddescribed in [EPP-D].

In addition to the EPP command elements described in [EPP-D], thecommand can contain an <extension> element. The <extension> element cancontain a child <relDom:renew> element to renew more than one relateddomain name in the <renew> command. The <relDom:renew> element containsthe following child elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements to renew along withthe <domain:name> described in [EPP-D]. The <relDom:domain> elementcontains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object to be renewed.

<relDom:curExpDate>—Element that contains the date on which the currentvalidity period ends as described in [EPP-D].

<relDom:period>—An optional element that contains the number of units tobe added to the registration period of the domain object as described in[EPP-D]. The number of units available may be subject to limits imposedby the server.

Example <renew> command for three related domain names (“example1.tld”,“example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) with the <relDom:renew> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <renew>   <domain:renew       xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>    <domain:curExpDate>2013-07-10</domain:curExpDate>     <domain:periodunit=“y”>5</domain:period>    </domain:renew>   </renew>   <extension>   <relDom:renew      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:curExpDate>2013-07-10</relDom:curExpDate>     <relDom:period unit=“y”>5</relDom:period>     </relDom:domain>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:curExpDate>2013-07-10</relDom:curExpDate>     <relDom:period unit=“y”>5</relDom:period>     </relDom:domain>   </relDom:renew>   </extension>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID> </command> </epp>

When a <renew> command has been processed successfully, the EPP<resData> element can contain child elements as described in [EPP-D]. Inaddition, the EPP <extension> element can contain a child<relDom:renData> element. The <relDom:renData> element contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements renewed along withthe <domain:name> described in [EPP-D]. The <relDom:domain> elementcontains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object renewed.

<relDom:exDate>—An optional element that contains the date and timeidentifying the end of the domain object's registration period.

Example <renew> response for three related domain names (“example1.tld”,“example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) renewed with the <relDom:renew>extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <response>   <resultcode=“1000”>    <msg>Command completed successfully</msg>   </result>  <resData>    <domain:renData      xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.com</domain:name>    <domain:exDate>2018-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</domain:exDate>   </domain:renData>   </resData>   <extension>    <relDom:renData      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example2.com</relDom:name>     <relDom:exDate>2018-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:exDate>    </relDom:domain>     <relDom:domain>     <relDom:name>example3.com</relDom:name>     <relDom:exDate>2018-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:exDate>    </relDom:domain>    </relDom:renData>   </extension>   <trID>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>    <svTRID>54321-XYZ</svTRID>   </trID> </response> </epp>

EPP <transfer> Command

This extension defines additional elements for the EPP <transfer>command described in [EPP-D]. In addition to the EPP command elementsdescribed in [EPP-D], the command can contain an <extension> element.The <extension> element can contain a child <relDom:transfer> element totransfer more than one related domain name in the <transfer> command.The <relDom:transfer> element contains the following child elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements to apply thetransfer operation to along with the <domain:name> described in [EPP-D].The <relDom:domain> element contains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object.

<relDom:authlnfo>—An optional element that contains authorizationinformation associated with the domain object as described in [EPP-D].

<relDom:period>—An optional element that contains the number of units tobe added to the registration period of the domain object as described in[EPP-D]. This element can only be used when a transfer is requested, andit can be ignored if used otherwise. The number of units available maybe subject to limits imposed by the server.

Example <transfer> request command for three related domain names(“example1.tld”, “example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) with the<relDom:transfer> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <transferop=“request”>    <domain:transfer      xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>     <domain:periodunit=“y”>1</domain:period>     <domain:authInfo>     <domain:pw>2fooBAR</domain:pw>     </domain:authInfo>   </domain:transfer>   </transfer>   <extension>    <relDom:transfer      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:authInfo>       <relDom:pw>relDom123!</relDom:pw>     </relDom:authInfo>      <relDom:period unit=“y”>1</relDom:period>    </relDom:domain>     <relDom:domain>     <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>      <relDom:authInfo>      <relDom:pw>relDom123!</relDom:pw>      </relDom:authInfo>    </relDom:domain>    </relDom:transfer>   </extension>  <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>  </command> </epp>

When a <transfer> command has been processed successfully, the EPP<resData> element can contain child elements as described in [EPP-D]. Inaddition, the EPP <extension> element can contain a child<relDom:trnData> element. The <relDom:trnData> element contains thefollowing child elements:

<relDom:domain>—One or more <relDom:domain> elements associated with thetransfer along with the <domain:name> described in [EPP-D]. The<relDom:domain> element contains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—Element that contains the fully qualified name of thedomain object.

<relDom:trStatus>—Element that contains the state of the most recenttransfer request.

<relDom:relD>—Element that contains the identifier of the client thatrequested the object transfer.

<relDom:reDate>—Element that contains the date and time that thetransfer was requested.

<relDom:aclD>—Element that contains the identifier of the client thatcan act upon a pending transfer request. For all other status types, thevalue identifies the client that took the indicated action.

<relDom:acDate>—Element that contains the date and time of a required orcompleted request as described in [EPP-D]. For a pending request, thevalue identifies the date and time by which a response is requiredbefore an automated response action will be taken by the server. For allother status types, the value identifies the date and time when therequest was completed.

<relDom:exDate>—An optional element that contains the date and timeidentifying the end of the domain object's registration period.

Example <transfer> response for three related domain names(“example1.tld”, “example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) transferred withthe <relDom:transfer> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <response>   <resultcode=“1000”>    <msg>Command completed successfully</msg>   </result>  <resData>    <domain:trnData      xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>    <domain:trStatus>pending</domain:trStatus>    <domain:reID>ClientX</domain:reID>    <domain:reDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</domain:reDate>    <domain:acID>ClientY</domain:acID>    <domain:acDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</domain:acDate>    <domain:exDate>2014-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</domain:exDate>   </domain:trnData>   </resData>   <extension>    <relDom:trnData      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:domain>      <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:trStatus>pending</relDom:trStatus>     <relDom:reID>ClientX</relDom:reID>     <relDom:reDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:reDate>     <relDom:acID>ClientY</relDom:acID>     <relDom:acDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:acDate>     <relDom:exDate>2014-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:exDate>    </relDom:domain>     <relDom:domain>     <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>     <relDom:trStatus>pending</relDom:trStatus>     <relDom:reID>ClientX</relDom:reID>     <relDom:reDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:reDate>     <relDom:acID>ClientY</relDom:acID>     <relDom:acDate>2013-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:acDate>     <relDom:exDate>2014-07-10T00:00:00.0000Z</relDom:exDate>    </relDom:domain>    </relDom:trnData>   </extension>   <trID>   <clTRID>ABC-12345</clTRID>    <svTRID>54321-XYZ</svTRID>   </trID> </response> </epp>

EPP <update> Command

This extension defines additional elements for the EPP <update> commanddescribed in [EPP-D]. In addition to the EPP command elements describedin [EPP-D], the command can contain an <extension> element. The<extension> element can contain a child <relDom:update> element toupdate more than one related domain name in the <update> command. Theupdates specified in the EPP <update> command described in [EPP-D] canbe applied to the domain objects specified in the <relDom:update>. The<relDom:update> element contains the following child elements:

<relDom:name>—One or more <relDom:name> elements to update along withthe <domain:name> described in [EPP-D].

Example <update> command for three related domain names (“example1.tld”,“example2.tld”, and “example3.tld”) with the <relDom:update> extension:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <command>   <update>   <domain:update      xmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>    <domain:name>example1.tld</domain:name>     <domain:add>     <domain:ns>       <domain:hostObj>ns1.example.com</domain:hostObj>     </domain:ns>      <domain:status s=“clientHold”/>     </domain:add>    <domain:rem>      <domain:ns>      <domain:hostObj>ns2.example.com</domain:hostObj>      </domain:ns>     <domain:status s=“clientDeleteProhibited”/>     </domain:rem>    <domain:chg>      <domain:registrant>jd1234</domain:registrant>     <domain:authInfo>       <domain:pw>2fooBAR</domain:pw>     </domain:authInfo>     </domain:chg>    </domain:update>  </update>   <extension>    <relDom:update      xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>    <relDom:name>example2.tld</relDom:name>    <relDom:name>example3.tld</relDom:name>    </relDom:update>  </extension>   <clTRID>ABC-12345-XYZ</clTRID>  </command> </epp>

This extension does not define any extension to the response of an<update> domain command. After processing the command, the serverreplies with a standard EPP response as defined in [EPP-D].

Formal Syntax is provided below. An EPP object mapping is specified inXML Schema notation. The formal syntax presented here is a completeschema representation of the object mapping suitable for automatedvalidation of EPP XML instances. The BEGIN and END tags are not part ofthe schema; they are used to note the beginning and ending of the schemafor URI registration purposes.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example computer system 300 that is consistentwith implementations of the present disclosure. In general, system 300may include components, for example, one or more modules to receive arequest, over an interface, to perform an action to one or moreprovisioning objects within a set of provisioning objects. The requestcan be provided by a client over a provisioning protocol, such as EPP,or can be provided over a UI. One or more modules can be operable toanalyze the request and one or more modules can be operable to performthe action based on the analyzing. In some implementations, the one ormore provisioning objects comprise a domain, a host, a contact, orcombinations thereof. In some implementations, the action comprises atransform operation, wherein the transform operation comprises a createaction, an update action, a delete action, a renew action, and/or atransfer action. In some implementations, the transform operation canmodify more than one of the one or more provisioning objects at the sametime with a single transform operation. In some implementations, the oneor more provisioning objects can share one or more attribute in common.In some implementations, one or more modules can be operable todetermine that the one or more provisioning objects share one or moreattributes in common and one or more modules can be operable toassociate together the one or more provisioning objects that weredetermined to share the one or more attributes in a database.

The one or more modules can be implemented in various computer systems,such as a personal computer, a server, a workstation, an embeddedsystem, a distributed system, a multifunction device, or a combinationthereof. The processes described herein can be implemented as a computerprogram. The computer program can exist in a variety of forms bothactive and inactive. For example, the computer program can exist assoftware program(s) comprised of program instructions in source code,object code, executable code or other formats, firmware program(s), orhardware description language (HDL) files. Any of the above can beembodied on a computer readable medium, which include storage devices,in compressed or uncompressed form. Examples of the components that canbe included in system 300 will now be described.

As shown, system 300 can include at least one processor 302,input/output devices 316, and may include a keyboard, a pointing device(e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, and the like), a display adapter 319 anddisplay 320, main memory 306, network adapter 322, removable storagedevice 312, and a storage device 308 including hard disk drive 310 andremovable storage device 312. Storage device 308 can comprise, forexample, RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed bya computer. System 300 can also be provided with additional input/outputdevices, such as a printer (not shown). The various components of system300 communicate through a system bus 304 or similar architecture. Inaddition, system 300 can include an operating system (OS) that residesin memory 306 during operation. One skilled in the art will recognizethat system 300 can include multiple processors. For example, system 300can include multiple copies of the same processor. Alternatively, system300 can include a heterogeneous mix of various types of processors. Forexample, system 300 can use one processor as a primary processor andother processors as co-processors. For another example, system 300 caninclude one or more multi-core processors and one or more single coreprocessors. Thus, system 300 can include any number of execution coresacross a set of processors. One skilled in the art will also recognizethat other components and peripherals can be included in system 300.

Main memory 106 serves as a primary storage area of system 300 and holdsdata that is actively used by applications running on processor 302. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that applications are softwareprograms that each contains a set of computer instructions forinstructing system 300 to perform a set of specific tasks duringruntime, and that the term “applications” can be used interchangeablywith application software, application programs, device drivers, and/orprograms in accordance with embodiments of the present teachings. Memory306 can be implemented as a random access memory or other forms ofmemory as described below, which are well known to those skilled in theart.

OS is an integrated collection of routines and instructions that areresponsible for the direct control and management of hardware in system300 and system operations. Additionally, OS provides a foundation uponwhich to run application software and device drivers. For example, OScan perform services, such as resource allocation, scheduling,input/output control, and memory management. OS can be predominantlysoftware, but can also contain partial or complete hardwareimplementations and firmware. Well known examples of operating systemsthat are consistent with the principles of the present teachings includeMICROSOFT WINDOWS (e.g., WINDOWS CE, WINDOWS NT, WINDOWS 2000, WINDOWSXP, and WINDOWS VISTA), MAC OS, LINUX, UNIX, ORACLE SOLARIS, OPEN VMS,and IBM AIX.

The foregoing description is illustrative, and variations inconfiguration and implementation can occur to persons skilled in theart. For instance, the various illustrative logics, logical blocks,modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be implemented or performed with a general purposeprocessor (e.g., processor 302), a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but, in thealternative, the processor can be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described can beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.For a software implementation, the techniques described herein can beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, subprograms,programs, routines, subroutines, modules, software packages, classes,and so on) that perform the functions described herein. A module can becoupled to another module or a hardware circuit by passing and/orreceiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents.Information, arguments, parameters, data, or the like can be passed,forwarded, or transmitted using any suitable means including memorysharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, and thelike. The software codes can be stored in memory units and executed byprocessors. The memory unit can be implemented within the processor orexternal to the processor, in which case it can be communicativelycoupled to the processor via various means as is known in the art.

If implemented in software, the functions can be stored on ortransmitted over a computer-readable medium as one or more instructionsor code. Computer-readable media includes both tangible, non-transitorycomputer storage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media can be any available tangible, non-transitory media thatcan be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation,such tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media can comprise RAM,ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in theform of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by acomputer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes CD, laser disc,optical disc, DVD, floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usuallyreproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically withlasers. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the ability to managemultiple (two or more) provisioned DNS registry objects in a singletransaction using the multiple domain EPP command structure, asdescribed above, can allow for greater efficiencies of communicationwith the registry over low-bandwidth networks. Instead of requiring aregistrar to issues multiple EPP commands for single registry objects,the ability to manage multiple provisioned DNS registry objects togetheras presently described can have cost savings to both the registrar thatissues the commands and the registry that processes the commands.

Resources described as singular or integrated can in one embodiment beplural or distributed, and resources described as multiple ordistributed can in embodiments be combined.

While the teachings have been described with reference to examples ofthe implementations thereof, those skilled in the art will be able tomake various modifications to the described implementations withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope. The terms and descriptionsused herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meantas limitations. In particular, although the processes have beendescribed by examples, the stages of the processes can be performed in adifferent order than illustrated or simultaneously. Furthermore, to theextent that the terms “including”, “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”,or variants thereof are used in the detailed description, such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”As used herein, the terms “one or more of” and “at least one of” withrespect to a listing of items such as, for example, A and B, means Aalone, B alone, or A and B. Further, unless specified otherwise, theterm “set” should be interpreted as “one or more.” Also, the term“couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or directconnection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, thatconnection can be through a direct connection, or through an indirectconnection via other devices, components, and connections.

Example <info> response for a domain with both “tld” and “variant”related domain information using the Domain Info Form:

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <eppxmlns=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:epp-1.0”>  <response>   <resultcode=“1000”>    <msg>Command completed successfully</msg>  </result> <resData>   <domain:infDataxmlns:domain=“urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:domain-1.0”>   <domain:name>xn--test.tld1</domain:name>   <domain:roid>TEST1-REP</domain:roid>    <domain:status s=“ok”/>   <domain:registrant>sh8013</domain:registrant>    <domain:contacttype=“admin”>sh8013</domain:contact>    <domain:contacttype=“tech”>sh8013</domain:contact>    <domain:contacttype=“billing”>sh8013</domain:contact>    <domain:ns>   <domain:hostObj>ns1.example.com</domain:hostObj>   <domain:hostObj>ns2.example.com</domain:hostObj>    </domain:ns>   <domain:host>ns1.example.com</domain:host>   <domain:host>ns2.example.com</domain:host>   <domain:clID>ClientX</domain:clID>   <domain:crID>ClientY</domain:crID>   <domain:crDate>1999-04-03T22:00:00.0Z</domain:crDate>   <domain:upID>ClientX</domain:upID>   <domain:upDate>1999-12-03T09:00:00.0Z</domain:upDate>   <domain:exDate>2005-04-03T22:00:00.0Z</domain:exDate>   <domain:trDate>2000-04-08T09:00:00.0Z</domain:trDate>   <domain:authInfo>    <domain:pw>2fooBAR</domain:pw>    </domain:authInfo>   </domain:infData>  </resData>  <extension>  <relDom:infData   xmlns:relDom=“http://www.verisign-grs.com/epp/relatedDomain-1.0”>   <relDom:group type=“tld”>     <relDom:fields inSync=“false”>     <relDom:field name=“clID” inSync=“false”>      <relDom:fieldname=“registrant” inSync=“true”>      <relDom:field name=“ns”inSync=“false”>     </relDom:fields>     <relDom:registered>     <relDom:name>xn--test.tld1</relDom:name>     <relDom:name>xn--test.tld2</relDom:name>     </relDom:registered>    <relDom:available>      <relDom:name>xn--test.tld3</relDom:name>    </relDom:available>    </relDom:group>    <relDom:grouptype=“variant”>     <relDom:fields inSync=“true”>      <relDom:fieldname=“clID” inSync=“true”>      <relDom:field name=“registrant”inSync=“true”>      <relDom:field name=“ns” inSync=“true”>    </relDom:fields>     <relDom:registered>     <relDom:name>xn--test-variant1.tld1</relDom:name>     <relDom:name>xn--test-variant2.tld1</relDom:name>     <relDom:name>xn--test-variant3.tld1</relDom:name>    </relDom:registered>     <relDom:available>     <relDom:name>xn--test-variant4.tld1</relDom:name>

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for updating domainname system (“DNS”) registry objects, the method comprising: receiving,at a DNS registry, a command to perform an action on a first provisionedDNS registry object; comparing the action with a policy maintained bythe DNS registry, wherein the policy comprises at least one allowableaction; determining that the action is allowable based on the policy;and after determining that the action is allowable, performing theaction for each of the first provisioned DNS registry object and asecond provisioned DNS registry object, wherein the first provisionedDNS registry object is related to the second provisioned DNS registryobject.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first provisioned DNSregistry object and the second provisioned DNS registry object share oneor more common attributes.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the actioncomprises updating the one or more common attributes.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the second provisioned DNS registry object comprises aninternationalized version of the first provisioned DNS registry object.5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the command comprises:receiving an extensible provisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a DNSregistrar.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the EPP command groups thefirst provisioned DNS registry object and the second provisioned DNSregistry object to be managed together.
 7. The method of claim 5,wherein the EPP command is a command to transfer the first provisionedDNS registry object, wherein performing the action comprisestransferring the first provisioned DNS registry object and the secondprovisioned DNS registry object.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst provisioned DNS registry object comprises a first top-level domainand the second provisioned DNS registry object comprises a secondtop-level domain, and wherein the first top-level domain and the secondtop-level domain are different top-level domains.
 9. A system forupdating domain name system (“DNS”) registry objects, the systemcomprising: a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to theprocessor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed on theprocessor, perform operations comprising: receiving, at a DNS registry,a command to perform an action on a first provisioned DNS registryobject; comparing the action with a policy maintained by the DNSregistry, wherein the policy comprises at least one allowable action;determining that the action is allowable based on the policy; and afterdetermining that the action is allowable, performing the action for eachof the first provisioned DNS registry object and a second provisionedDNS registry object, wherein the first provisioned DNS registry objectis related to the second provisioned DNS registry object.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the first provisioned DNS registry object and thesecond provisioned DNS registry object share one or more commonattributes.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the action comprisesupdating the one or more common attributes.
 12. The system of claim 9,wherein receiving the command comprises: receiving an extensibleprovisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a DNS registrar, wherein theEPP command groups the first provisioned DNS registry object and thesecond provisioned DNS registry object to be managed together.
 13. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein receiving the command comprises: receiving anextensible provisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a DNS registrar,wherein the EPP command is a command to transfer the first provisionedDNS registry object, and wherein performing the action comprisestransferring the first provisioned DNS registry object and the secondprovisioned DNS registry object.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein thefirst provisioned DNS registry object comprises a first top-level domainand the second provisioned DNS registry object comprises a secondtop-level domain, and wherein the first top-level domain and the secondtop-level domain are different top-level domains.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to: receive, at a DNS registry, a commandto perform an action on a first provisioned DNS registry object; comparethe action with a policy maintained by the DNS registry, wherein thepolicy comprises at least one allowable action; determine that theaction is allowable based on the policy; and after determining that theaction is allowable, perform the action for each of the firstprovisioned DNS registry object and a second provisioned DNS registryobject, wherein the first provisioned DNS registry object is related tothe second provisioned DNS registry object.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first provisioned DNSregistry object and the second provisioned DNS registry object share oneor more common attributes.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 15, wherein the action comprises updating the one ormore common attributes.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 15, wherein receiving the command comprises: receiving anextensible provisioning protocol (“EPP”) command from a DNS registrar,wherein the EPP command groups the first provisioned DNS registry objectand the second provisioned DNS registry object to be managed together.19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, whereinreceiving the command comprises: receiving an extensible provisioningprotocol (“EPP”) command from a DNS registrar, wherein the EPP commandis a command to transfer the first provisioned DNS registry object, andwherein performing the action comprises transferring the firstprovisioned DNS registry object and the second provisioned DNS registryobject.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15,wherein the first provisioned DNS registry object comprises a firsttop-level domain and the second provisioned DNS registry objectcomprises a second top-level domain, and wherein the first top-leveldomain and the second top-level domain are different top-level domains.